Method for providing a super jackpot for gaming machines

Abstract

A method and system are set forth of providing for a super jackpot to be awarded should a qualifying super jackpot combination be obtained by any player playing gaming machines supplied by a supplier to a host facility. The machines are independent, each having a super jackpot combination obtainable based upon a predetermined probability. The host facilities each pay periodic contributions which go to a super jackpot fund. The contribution stream is sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot prior to having to pay it out to a player. The periodic contributions may be fixed. The super jackpot fund may progressively increase over time until the winning combination is obtained.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for providing a super jackpot for remotely located, independent gaming machines comprising: a supplier supplying at least one machine to each of a plurality of host facilities, each machine including a super jackpot combination having a predetermined probability of occurring;   establishing a super jackpot fund from which to pay players said super jackpot;   funding said super jackpot by assessing a contribution for each machine supplied and paid by at least one of said supplier and host facilities, said funding at a level in comparison to the probability of said super jackpot occurring sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot in advance of the super jackpot occurring; and   paying the super jackpot to a player obtaining the super jackpot combination.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said super jackpot is progressive the method further including periodically increasing the funding to said fund from said contributions to increase said super jackpot fund. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 further including funding said super jackpot at a level, in comparison to the probability of the super jackpot occurring, to more than fund an annuity fund of an amount representing said super jackpot. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 further including paying the super jackpot to the player in installments. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 further including funding said super jackpot at a level, in comparison to the probability of the super jackpot occurring, to more than fund an annuity fund of an amount sufficient to pay said installments. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said supplier supplies the machines and establishes the super jackpot fund, the method further including assessing periodic contributions to be paid by the host facilities. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said assessed contribution is periodic and fixed. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 further including setting said fixed contribution based at least in part on a handle determined for said machine. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein each machine has a maximum play, the method including funding the super jackpot to at least one million times the maximum play for the machine. 
     
     
       10. A method for providing a super jackpot for remote, independent gaming machines comprising: a supplier supplying at least one machine to each of a plurality of host facilities, each machine including a super jackpot combination having a predetermined probability of occurring, play of said machines by players resulting in revenue to the supplier and host facility;   a provider establishing a super jackpot fund to fund the payouts of each super jackpot;   funding each super jackpot by assessing a periodic fixed contribution to be paid by at least one of said supplier and host facilities, said contribution paid to the provider, funding at a level in comparison to the probability of said super jackpots occurring sufficient to at least fund the super jackpots in advance of the super jackpots occurring; and   the provider paying super jackpots to players obtaining the super jackpot combination.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein the super jackpot funding step includes each host facility paying a periodic contribution to the provider, said contributions from the facilities sufficient to produce an funding stream which is sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot in advance of the super jackpots occurring. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the contribution by each facility is at least based upon the drop for the machines supplied thereto. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10 wherein the supplier and provider are a single entity supplying the machines and receiving the assessed contributions from the host facilities. 
     
     
       14. A method for operating a plurality of independent gaming machines in remote locations and providing a super jackpot therefore, the method comprising: a supplier providing a plurality of independent gaming machines to a plurality or remote host facilities;   programming each of said machines to provide for a super jackpot combination payout of at least one million times the amount wagered thereon, said super jackpot combination having a predetermined probability of occurring for each play of the machine;   each facility contributing a periodic payment to the supplier at least sufficient to fund, based upon the probability of the super jackpot occurring, the super jackpot combination paid out when the same appears on any of said machines.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein the contributed periodic payment is a fixed payment amount. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fixed payment amount for each host facility is based at least upon the combined amounts wagered on the machines over time. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 further including establishing an initial super jackpot fund amount and incrementally increasing said fund over time to define a progressive super jackpot fund to be paid out when the super jackpot combination appears, the fund returning to the initial fund amount after said payout and incrementally increasing therefrom. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 further including the supplier posting at each host facility the current amount of said super payout. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 wherein said posting includes providing a display and means for remotely changing the display.